brake pad fell apart on 2002 at 43,561 miles

The threads I've read are consistent in describing air being drawn from the cabin, to the underside of the hybrid battery pack and away from the top of the battery pack to the "outside". So far, I have found no mention of the temperature impact from 3 of the 4 openings, in the terminal portion of the vent duct, discharging into the trunk space. If the thin trunk liner is in place, the air discharged under it seems all the more likely to accumulate heat inside the vehicle rather than removing heat, and to accumulate/concentrate the heat in the area of the auxiliary battery and driver's side portion of the hybrid battery. That area could be useful for keeping coffee hot but seems unhealthy for batteries. It also makes the trunk hotter than conventional cars and poses a hazard for whatever might be transported in the trunk by an unsuspecting driver.

BTW, although there is a "hot" connection with the original theme of brake pads falling apart, I've read enough posts to think this should be started somewhere, somehow, as a new topic. I have no clue how that would be done effectively.

 

I am referring to the last portion of the battery ventilation system in the 2002 Prius, the "Quarter Inner No. 2 Duct" aka Duct, lower fan part # L 62934-47020. I realize the system was changed considerably in the 2004 and later models. I can find pictures which include the part I'm wondering about but I have not been able to copy them here. There is no foam involved with this part and it vents to a louvered opening in the left rear quarter panel but also has 3 unobstructed openings into the space inside the trunk, between the trunk liner (interior trim) and quarter panel, thus creating a heat pocket.